branch: biology of Kansas membracid^. 97 



The copulatory organ is little seen in lateral aspect, as it is 

 situated on the ventral side of the anal plate, and is closely 

 attached thereto. In ventral aspect this organ is seen lying 

 against the anal plate {k, fig. 51, pi. XIV) . It is highly chitin- 

 ized and dark, bearing a set of conspicuous, polished elevations. 



The Female Genital Organs. Ovipositors. — The last ven- 

 tral segment is triangular in its caudal edge, the sides sloping 

 obliquely from the middle. Proceeding from under this sclerite 

 is a pair of long, slender, highly chitinized plates (o, fig. 53, 

 pi. XV). Near the ventral plate of the abdomen these plates 

 enlarge or broaden and surround the vaginal opening. These 

 slender sclerites are pointed at the caudal extremity, situated 

 close together, forming a groove for the placing of the eggs. 

 These are the ovipositors. 



Either side of the ovipositors is another long, slender scle- 

 rite. This with its mate form the egg guides (r, fig. 53, 

 pi. XV). 



In lateral aspect (fig. 54, pi. XV) are seen the supra-anal 

 plate at g, the subgenital at gs. the cerci or claspers at r, and 

 the egg guides at e. The ventral plate is shown at v. In the 

 female the subgenital plate lies beneath the anterior edge of 

 the ovipositors. On its posterior edge it is double curved (fir, 

 fig. 53, pi. XV). 



Techmque. 



Three processes of killing were used. First, the hot-water 

 method: Boiling water was poured over the specimens and 

 allowed to stand without further heating, for five minutes. At 

 the end of this time dehydration was commenced, using in- 

 creasing grades of alcohol from 30 per cent to 70 per cent, and 

 left in 70 per cent for keeping. 



The second method: Gilson's solution — acetic alcohol with 

 sublimate (see Lee's Vade Mecum) — ^was poured over speci- 

 mens and allowed to stand from fifteen to thirty minutes. The 

 solution was washed out with claret solution or iodine in 85 

 per cent alcohol. This washing must be repeated several times 

 for an hour or two until no trace of the odor of acetic acid can 

 be detected. If this acetic acid remains in the specimen it will 

 cause the insect to swell, and there is danger of the abdomen 

 bursting. The claret solution is replaced by 70 per cent alco- 

 hol for keeping. 



